Chief Story Officer

Rob D. Willis

English Business Education How To Management Technology

Apple Podcasts Website RSS

Episodes 13

Avg. Duration 34m

Activity Highly Active

Apple Rating ★ 5.0 (1)

Since Nov 2025

Latest Episode Jun 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule

Every 2 Weeks

Format

Episodic

Consistency

62%

Hosting

feeds.captivate.fm

About This Podcast

Most leaders know storytelling matters. But can stories actually be strategic? On Chief Story Officer we talk to executives and thought leaders who know that the right story at the right time can shift strategy, align teams and transform businesses. Hosted by Rob D. Willis, a strategic story producer who's helped leaders at HelloFresh, Babbel, and Raisin craft compelling stories that make strategies stick, so teams live it and clients feel it. What You'll Discover: 🎯 Real world examples of stories shifting team direction, clarifying strategy or closing deals. 🧠 Strategic frameworks to think about storytelling as part of business strategy ⚡ Practical takeaways you can use in your next meeting, pitch, or all-hands 🎙️ Diverse perspectives from CEOs, strategists, and operators who've cracked the code on strategic storytelling This isn't about crafting perfect presentations or learning narrative tricks. It's about understanding how stories shape decisions, drive alignment, and create measurable business impact. Who This Is For: Chief Story Officer is built for executives, senior leaders, and strategic thinkers who know that communication is more than a soft skill. If you're responsible for: 📊 Leading teams through change and uncertainty 🎯 Communicating vision and strategy across your organisation 🤝 Building buy-in for complex initiatives 💡 Translating technical ideas into compelling direction ✨ Creating alignment where there's confusion ...then this podcast will sharpen how you lead through communication. About Your Host: Rob D. Willis is a strategic story producer who's been helping executives communicate ideas that matter since 2018. He's delivered 3,000+ presentations to 100,000 people across six continents, working with HelloFresh, Babbel, and Raisin to transform how they tell their stories. Before focusing on executive storytelling, Rob spent years as a Berlin tour guide and music producer—two disciplines that taught him what makes messages memorable and impossible to ignore. The Format: ⏱️ 30 minutes per episode 📅 New episodes every two weeks 💬 Conversational and story-driven style 🎯 Focused on extracting specific lessons that made communication work in high-stakes moments Why Subscribe: If you believe that the way you communicate shapes the way you lead—and that better stories lead to better strategy—Chief Story Officer will become your go-to resource for sharpening both. New episodes drop bi-weekly. Subscribe now so you never miss a conversation! 🌐 Visit robdwillis.com for frameworks, resources, and more on strategic storytelling in leadership.

Podcasting 2.0 Features

episode medium

Social Media

Explore Statistics

English Podcasts Report Business Report Education Report How To Report Management Report Technology Report English Business Report

Recent Episodes

From Brand Clarity to Team Buy-In: Park Howell on Narrative Leadership

Jun 05, 2026 40m

Park Howell, EMMY Award-winning storyteller and host of the Business of Story podcast, joins the show to share why simplifying your message isn’t just good storytelling, it’s good leadership.In this…

How Great Leaders Inspire with Stories, Not Slides, Featuring Paul Smith

May 22, 2026 37m

Paul Smith, bestselling author and business storytelling consultant, joins the show to share how surprise turns stories into unforgettable leadership tools and why the best business lessons don’t…

Why Every Leader Needs Story Discovery Not Just Storytelling with Esther Choy

May 08, 2026 34m

Esther Choy, CEO and Chief Story Facilitator at Leadership Story Lab, joins the show to challenge the idea that the leader must always be the "sage on stage" and explains why real power lies in…

Rethinking Storytelling: Folklore, Collaboration, and Decolonising the Business Narrative with Annette Simmons

Apr 24, 2026 36m

Annette Simmons, author of The Story Factor and Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins, joins the show to challenge the idea that business storytelling is just about heroes and conflict. She reveals why…

The Magic of Metaphors: Simon Lancaster’s Guide to Transforming Boring Corporate Speeches

Apr 10, 2026 36m

Simon Lancaster, leading speechwriter and author of Connect! How to Inspire, Influence and Energise Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime, joins the show to break down why most corporate communication fails and…

Turning Small Stories into Big Strategy: Insights from Shawn Callahan

Mar 27, 2026 36m

Shawn Callahan, founder of Anecdote International and author of the award-winning book Putting Stories to Work, joins the show to reveal how story listening, not just storytelling can transform…

The Red Thread of Relevance: Strategic Storytelling Lessons from Kendra Valentine

Mar 13, 2026 31m

Kendra Valentine, story strategist and author of How to Pitch (Almost) Anything, joins the show to unpack how leading with your value rather than your credentials transforms the way you communicate,…

Clear Communication Drives Change: Matt Armstrong-Barnes on Leadership, Stories, and AI

Feb 27, 2026 29m

Matt Armstrong-Barnes, Group AI Practice Director at Servita and keynote speaker, joins the show to uncover why the real challenge of AI transformation isn’t just the technology, it’s the story…

Why Executives Lose Deals: The Left Brain Trap

Jan 09, 2026 29m

Jeremy Connell-Waite, Global Communications Designer at IBM and author of "The 109 Rules of Storytelling," joins the show to reveal why smart executives fail at persuasion.In this conversation, we…

Why Personal Stories Sell Better Than Features

Dec 26, 2025 33m

Lauren V. Davis, personal branding consultant and host of The Real Personal Branding Podcast, joins the show to reveal why the executives who say "I don't have any stories" are usually the ones…

What "Be More Strategic" Actually Means (And How to Do It)

Dec 12, 2025 31m

Charlie Curson, strategist and leadership coach with 25+ years advising companies like VISA, McDonald's, and Unilever, joins the show to break down what "being strategic" actually means.In this…

The Chief Storytelling Officer: Why Every Company Needs a Story Guardian

Nov 28, 2025 39m

Rain Bennett, award-winning filmmaker and fractional Chief Storytelling Officer, joins the show to discuss why storytelling isn't just marketing—it's strategy.In this conversation, we explore what a…

Trailer: Welcome to Chief Story Officer

Nov 14, 2025 0m Trailer Transcript

Welcome to Chief Story Officer. In this quick trailer, host Rob D. Willis introduces the show: conversations with executives and thought leaders about how storytelling shifts strategy, wins buy-in,…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Chief Story Officer have?

Chief Story Officer has published 13 episodes since November 2025, covering topics in Business, Education.

Is Chief Story Officer still active?

Chief Story Officer is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 34m.